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#1
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159 or GT ??
After 7 years driving two successive 156s, one a 1.8TS saloon and the
second a 2.0 Selespeed Sportwagon, (plus a few other variations in between), I'm now weighing up a GT or a 159 as my next Alfa. For once I don't have to think about this being our main family car (the wife's getting a Mazda 6 Estate), so I'd be interested in any experiences good and bad with either the GT or the 159 (thus far). Whichever I chose, it's gonna be the 1.9JTDM powerplant, for tax and torque reasons... Cheers -Rod- |
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#2
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159 or GT ??
Well, I'm a very happy GT 2.0 JTS driver.
Absolute joy to drive. And IMHO the best looking Alfa at this moment. I have the GT in Rosso Radicofani (dark red metallic) . Also full leather option (tan coloured), 18" rims with 225/40 Michelin Pilot Sport, Bose sound system with MP3 & BlueTooth Still a nice comfortable drive (NO lowered suspension though) yet very sporty. And the only coupe with a nice large booth, large 3rd door, back seats that can by flopped over. If you don't need the ease of a 4 door car, leave the 159 and go for the GT -- Ciao from The Netherlands alfistagj (aka Gert-Jan) GT 2.0 JTS (2005) Montreal 2.6V8 (1428700 - 1973/4) "hologram" > schreef in bericht oups.com... > After 7 years driving two successive 156s, one a 1.8TS saloon and the > second a 2.0 Selespeed Sportwagon, (plus a few other variations in > between), I'm now weighing up a GT or a 159 as my next Alfa. > > For once I don't have to think about this being our main family car > (the wife's getting a Mazda 6 Estate), so I'd be interested in any > experiences good and bad with either the GT or the 159 (thus far). > > Whichever I chose, it's gonna be the 1.9JTDM powerplant, for tax and > torque reasons... > > Cheers > -Rod- > |
#3
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159 or GT ??
In article .com>,
"hologram" > wrote: > After 7 years driving two successive 156s, one a 1.8TS saloon and the > second a 2.0 Selespeed Sportwagon, (plus a few other variations in > between), I'm now weighing up a GT or a 159 as my next Alfa. > > For once I don't have to think about this being our main family car > (the wife's getting a Mazda 6 Estate), so I'd be interested in any > experiences good and bad with either the GT or the 159 (thus far). > > Whichever I chose, it's gonna be the 1.9JTDM powerplant, for tax and > torque reasons... > > Cheers > -Rod- I've driven both extensively. While I wouldn't be able to comment on overall reliability and longevity (I put about 2500 miles on each over a two-three week period). I can address other factors. The 159 is very comfortable, has great visability, and it handles nicely for such sized car. It feels more sporty than any BMW or Audi or Mercedes that I have ever driven, But the Diesel engine in the one I had left a lot to be desired performance-wise. It has fast steering with lots of feedback and a terrible turning radius of almost 50 ft. Brakes are good, but not great in the model I had. The interior is a little austere for my tastes with not enough instrumentation for an Alfa. The Sprint GT, OTOH, is a fun car with great FWD handling (if, indeed, a FWD car can have "great handling". Lets just say that this car handles better than most FWD cars I've driven) and that gorgeous and responsive old 4-valve Alfa V-6 which will take the GT to 150 mph effortlessly. Acceleration is adequate, not more. My old 3.0 Liter GTV-6 will get to 60 a lot faster, that's for sure. The GT is reasonably quick, has great seats, and I had the pleasure of doing 10 laps around Imola in it which it handled with great aplomb. Like the sedan, not enough instrumentation to suit me, huge turning circle, but really fast, responsive steering. The brakes are huge multi-pot Brembos and really haul the GT down. Handling wise, its a GT car, not a sports car. Its longish wheelbase makes it more at home on motorways than on twisty mountain roads, although it will equate itself pretty well on those albeit with lots of push on turn-in. My biggest complaint about the GT is that you can't see out. The styling gimmick of the narrow-slit glass ala Audi TT and Daimler-Chrysler 300 does nothing for visability either forward or out the side windows. It does look nice though. -- George Graves The health of our society is a direct result of the men and women we choose to admire. |
#4
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159 or GT ??
Thanks for that, the colour combination I am considering is probably
going to be Alfa Red with Tan Leather. Not entirely convinced on the Tan leather colour, but seems a worthy combination with Red body. Cheers -Rod- alfistagj wrote: > Well, I'm a very happy GT 2.0 JTS driver. > Absolute joy to drive. > And IMHO the best looking Alfa at this moment. > I have the GT in Rosso Radicofani (dark red metallic) . > Also full leather option (tan coloured), 18" rims with 225/40 Michelin Pilot > Sport, Bose sound system with MP3 & BlueTooth > Still a nice comfortable drive (NO lowered suspension though) yet very > sporty. > And the only coupe with a nice large booth, large 3rd door, back seats that > can by flopped over. > If you don't need the ease of a 4 door car, leave the 159 and go for the GT > -- > Ciao from The Netherlands > alfistagj (aka Gert-Jan) > GT 2.0 JTS (2005) > Montreal 2.6V8 (1428700 - 1973/4) > > "hologram" > schreef in bericht > oups.com... > > After 7 years driving two successive 156s, one a 1.8TS saloon and the > > second a 2.0 Selespeed Sportwagon, (plus a few other variations in > > between), I'm now weighing up a GT or a 159 as my next Alfa. > > > > For once I don't have to think about this being our main family car > > (the wife's getting a Mazda 6 Estate), so I'd be interested in any > > experiences good and bad with either the GT or the 159 (thus far). > > > > Whichever I chose, it's gonna be the 1.9JTDM powerplant, for tax and > > torque reasons... > > > > Cheers > > -Rod- > > |
#5
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159 or GT ??
Thanks George, I think I'm getting more convinced about the GT, this is
supposed to be a fun second car, not the main family car, so sounds like it fits the bill perfectly! -Rod- George Graves wrote: > In article .com>, > "hologram" > wrote: > > > After 7 years driving two successive 156s, one a 1.8TS saloon and the > > second a 2.0 Selespeed Sportwagon, (plus a few other variations in > > between), I'm now weighing up a GT or a 159 as my next Alfa. > > > > For once I don't have to think about this being our main family car > > (the wife's getting a Mazda 6 Estate), so I'd be interested in any > > experiences good and bad with either the GT or the 159 (thus far). > > > > Whichever I chose, it's gonna be the 1.9JTDM powerplant, for tax and > > torque reasons... > > > > Cheers > > -Rod- > > I've driven both extensively. While I wouldn't be able to comment on > overall reliability and longevity (I put about 2500 miles on each over a > two-three week period). I can address other factors. The 159 is very > comfortable, has great visability, and it handles nicely for such sized > car. It feels more sporty than any BMW or Audi or Mercedes that I have > ever driven, But the Diesel engine in the one I had left a lot to be > desired performance-wise. It has fast steering with lots of feedback and > a terrible turning radius of almost 50 ft. Brakes are good, but not > great in the model I had. The interior is a little austere for my tastes > with not enough instrumentation for an Alfa. > > The Sprint GT, OTOH, is a fun car with great FWD handling (if, indeed, a > FWD car can have "great handling". Lets just say that this car handles > better than most FWD cars I've driven) and that gorgeous and responsive > old 4-valve Alfa V-6 which will take the GT to 150 mph effortlessly. > Acceleration is adequate, not more. My old 3.0 Liter GTV-6 will get to > 60 a lot faster, that's for sure. The GT is reasonably quick, has great > seats, and I had the pleasure of doing 10 laps around Imola in it which > it handled with great aplomb. Like the sedan, not enough instrumentation > to suit me, huge turning circle, but really fast, responsive steering. > The brakes are huge multi-pot Brembos and really haul the GT down. > Handling wise, its a GT car, not a sports car. Its longish wheelbase > makes it more at home on motorways than on twisty mountain roads, > although it will equate itself pretty well on those albeit with lots of > push on turn-in. My biggest complaint about the GT is that you can't see > out. The styling gimmick of the narrow-slit glass ala Audi TT and > Daimler-Chrysler 300 does nothing for visability either forward or out > the side windows. It does look nice though. > > -- > George Graves > The health of our society is a direct result of the men > and women we choose to admire. |
#6
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159 or GT ??
On Tue, 11 Jul 2006 16:53:21 GMT, George Graves >
wrote: > the Diesel engine in the one I had left a lot to be >desired performance-wise. I guess you were in the 1.9? -- Z Scotland Alfa Romeo 156 2.4JTD Veloce Leather 'Oil' be seeing you.. (Email without 'Alfa' in subject are auto-deleted..sorry!) |
#7
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159 or GT ??
On 10 Jul 2006 15:08:17 -0700, "hologram" >
wrote: >After 7 years driving two successive 156s, one a 1.8TS saloon and the >second a 2.0 Selespeed Sportwagon, (plus a few other variations in >between), I'm now weighing up a GT or a 159 as my next Alfa. > >For once I don't have to think about this being our main family car >(the wife's getting a Mazda 6 Estate), so I'd be interested in any >experiences good and bad with either the GT or the 159 (thus far). > >Whichever I chose, it's gonna be the 1.9JTDM powerplant, for tax and >torque reasons... I've had a 159 (1.9 JTS) for four months now and am *very* happy with it. I never had a 156, so I can't do a direct comparison. But on a run to the Pyrenees it proved a real pleasure to drive, both on the motorway and on twisty mountain roads. I gather the back seats in the GT are a bit of a joke (suitable for children of age four to five) so the choice probably comes down to how certain you are you'll never need to carry a third person. At least with the 159 you'll have the option of doing family days out in the Alfa. -- Stephen Poley |
#8
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159 or GT ??
Hi Stephen
Glad to hear the 159 is living up to expectations. I am still not entirely decided, but think I am leaning towards the GT rather than the 159 - I'd like to give it a couple of years for the "bugs" to come out first I think!! -Rod- Stephen Poley wrote: > On 10 Jul 2006 15:08:17 -0700, "hologram" > > wrote: > > >After 7 years driving two successive 156s, one a 1.8TS saloon and the > >second a 2.0 Selespeed Sportwagon, (plus a few other variations in > >between), I'm now weighing up a GT or a 159 as my next Alfa. > > > >For once I don't have to think about this being our main family car > >(the wife's getting a Mazda 6 Estate), so I'd be interested in any > >experiences good and bad with either the GT or the 159 (thus far). > > > >Whichever I chose, it's gonna be the 1.9JTDM powerplant, for tax and > >torque reasons... > > I've had a 159 (1.9 JTS) for four months now and am *very* happy with > it. I never had a 156, so I can't do a direct comparison. But on a run > to the Pyrenees it proved a real pleasure to drive, both on the motorway > and on twisty mountain roads. > > I gather the back seats in the GT are a bit of a joke (suitable for > children of age four to five) so the choice probably comes down to how > certain you are you'll never need to carry a third person. At least with > the 159 you'll have the option of doing family days out in the Alfa. > > -- > Stephen Poley |
#9
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159 or GT ??
In real, the tan leather is very nice, with sophisticated stitching in same
colour and it's perforated on seat and back. Not at all comparable with i.e. the Audi TT tan leather which looks like Rock shoes with those contrast coloured shoe laces...... -- Ciao from The Netherlands alfistagj (aka Gert-Jan) GT 2.0 JTS (2005) Montreal 2.6V8 (1428700 - 1973/4) "hologram" > schreef in bericht oups.com... > Thanks for that, the colour combination I am considering is probably > going to be Alfa Red with Tan Leather. Not entirely convinced on the > Tan leather colour, but seems a worthy combination with Red body. > > Cheers > > -Rod- > > > alfistagj wrote: >> Well, I'm a very happy GT 2.0 JTS driver. >> Absolute joy to drive. >> And IMHO the best looking Alfa at this moment. >> I have the GT in Rosso Radicofani (dark red metallic) . >> Also full leather option (tan coloured), 18" rims with 225/40 Michelin >> Pilot >> Sport, Bose sound system with MP3 & BlueTooth >> Still a nice comfortable drive (NO lowered suspension though) yet very >> sporty. >> And the only coupe with a nice large booth, large 3rd door, back seats >> that >> can by flopped over. >> If you don't need the ease of a 4 door car, leave the 159 and go for the >> GT >> -- >> Ciao from The Netherlands >> alfistagj (aka Gert-Jan) >> GT 2.0 JTS (2005) >> Montreal 2.6V8 (1428700 - 1973/4) >> >> "hologram" > schreef in bericht >> oups.com... >> > After 7 years driving two successive 156s, one a 1.8TS saloon and the >> > second a 2.0 Selespeed Sportwagon, (plus a few other variations in >> > between), I'm now weighing up a GT or a 159 as my next Alfa. >> > >> > For once I don't have to think about this being our main family car >> > (the wife's getting a Mazda 6 Estate), so I'd be interested in any >> > experiences good and bad with either the GT or the 159 (thus far). >> > >> > Whichever I chose, it's gonna be the 1.9JTDM powerplant, for tax and >> > torque reasons... >> > >> > Cheers >> > -Rod- >> > > |
#10
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159 or GT ??
http://www.alfaromeogt.nl/
Although in Dutch, nice pics of the various colour/option combinations. Temp. not on-line though. A lot of full resulution pics of both on www.fiatautopress.com -- Ciao from The Netherlands alfistagj (aka Gert-Jan) GT 2.0 JTS (2005) Montreal 2.6V8 (1428700 - 1973/4) "hologram" > schreef in bericht oups.com... > After 7 years driving two successive 156s, one a 1.8TS saloon and the > second a 2.0 Selespeed Sportwagon, (plus a few other variations in > between), I'm now weighing up a GT or a 159 as my next Alfa. > > For once I don't have to think about this being our main family car > (the wife's getting a Mazda 6 Estate), so I'd be interested in any > experiences good and bad with either the GT or the 159 (thus far). > > Whichever I chose, it's gonna be the 1.9JTDM powerplant, for tax and > torque reasons... > > Cheers > -Rod- > |
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